Special Interests, or Why Philpot = Vouchers

Much has been made about how much of Jim Matheson's campaign funding has come from PACs.

However, Morgan Philpot's campaign has gotten help from PACs. But, they did it in a way that is nearly impossible to track just how much PAC help they are getting.

First, there was the ad run by "B Alice Baker" who usually goes by Barbra Baker. She spent $50,000 of her own money to run the radio ads.

She says that "Both parties have been at fault with ignoring how to maintain freedom, and getting bigger and taxing more and spending more." However, the only talking point she has in her ad is that Jim Matheson votes with the Democratic Leadership 90% of the time. In other words, according to her radio ad, she's voting for Morgan Philpot because he's a Republican.

Which kinda makes her statement to KSL seem fishy.

So, who is Barbra Alice Baker? She's the owner of Challenger Schools, and was a big proponent of vouchers. Remember vouchers? That initiative that Utah voters defeated by more than a 3 to 2 margin. In fact, it was defeated in every single county.

However, the biggest special interest running Philpot's campaign for him is FreedomWorks. FreedomWorks is a big backer of....

Vouchers.

Another big proponent of vouchers is FreedomWorks. FreedomWorks is behind those often illegally-placed Matheson=Pelosi signs you see around town, and most of the Philpot signs you see as well.

What is Morgan Philpot's position on vouchers? Well, the guy who invented the Utah Republicans' Web Communications Committee can't seem to give any communication on his web site about his view on education. Which can only lead us to assume one thing:

Philpot = Vouchers.

-Bob

Did Morgan Philpot Violate Federal Election Law?

No, I'm not talking about the radio ad, even though that set off some BS detectors at my house.

No, I'm talking billboards.

Press Release from Utah Democratic Party (h/t Amicus)

Salt Lake City, UT—Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland said today he is asking election attorneys to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) regarding questions about a discrepancy on 2nd Congressional District candidate Morgan Philpot’s campaign filing regarding billboard rentals.

Holland said that Philpot’s FEC report shows a payment of $2,854 on October 1 for billboard rentals. Based on what other campaigns are paying for billboards and the number of signs Philpot has displayed, Holland says the campaign disclosure is off by a significant amount.

“Federal campaign law is clear. In-kind donations from companies are not allowed. Mr. Philpot is on leave from his job with an outdoor advertising company. He must pay the going rate and whether he has done so is the focus of our complaint,” said Holland.

Holland said the Philpot campaign has several freeway “bulletin” signs, which rent for roughly $1,000 a month each, plus at least nine “30 sheets” around the 2nd Congressional District. Similar billboard rentals by Utah Democratic candidates in state and local races have totaled between $28,000 and $30,000.

Holland said the complaint will be filed with the FEC, triggering a formal investigation by that agency.

“As someone seeking to hold the public trust of elected office, Philpot needs to be held accountable to the law,” said Holland.

I Wish I Lived In Republicanland

Republicanland must be a great place to live. I want to visit some day.

You see, in Republicanland, saying you opponent is trying to take away Seminary from the religious majority by adding 2 more required high school classes (in a 4-year span) is having a good, clean, issue-based discussion. Yet pointing out that there might be something wrong in accepting cash from and meeting privately with people who are seeking government contracts is wrong is hitting "below the belt."

In Republicanland, having the CEO say he doesn't know what's going on in his company means he can get a huge bonus on his way out the door. If the CEO is a Republican Governor, he's a great leader who deserves to keep his job. Who needs to know who's really running the state? In Republicanland, it doesn't matter.

In Republicanland, when you are running up large deficits, it's OK to sue and get sued by the feds. It's also a great time to give tax breaks to rich people. It's also a great idea to give tax breaks to rich people in times of plenty, too. Even if that puts you in deficits. Any other reason (except for war) for going into deficit spending is a bad idea. Even if it puts people to work or helps them buy food.

In Repulicanland, saying your Democratic incumbent opponent is nothing but an empty seat is great campaigning. When it's pointed out that you got the facts wrong, it means that your opponent is slinging mud. (see here)

In Republicanland, a group that endorses both candidates obviously meant it to be the Republican candidate.

In Republicanland, you didn't raise taxes if the only taxes you raised was on cigarettes.

In Republicanland, other politicians are good people to have vouch for your integrity.

In Republicanland, parents should have the option of sending their kids to private school. Unless said parent ever wants to run as a Democrat. Because the only way to know that public schools are failing/succeeding (because in Republicanland, public schools are doing both of them, at the same time) is if your kids are in public schools. But you can know what's best for higher education if you never finished college, and went to a private college at that.

In Republicanland, you can love the constitution, even if you want to add two amendments and repeal three others.

In Republicanland, saying you trust the Utah Legislature more than Utah voters is a great way to get elected.

Republicanland is a big place. It encompasses cities such as Herbertville, Philpot Pharms, and Leeton. Am I missing any more wonderful parts of Republicanland?

-Bob

Some (Controversial) Thoughts on Operation Chaos

A number of years ago, I got accused of voter fraud.

The accusation stemmed from the fact that I changed my party registration to Republican so I could vote in a Republican primary, then switching it back to unaffiliated.

Which is perfectly legal. I know I'm not the only one who does it.

I always vote for the best candidate. Mostly because I know that there is a chance that the candidate will be the next office holder.

And every election year, we hear Republicans complain that Democrats are voting for the worst candidate. And that may be true in some instances.

However, I have never heard a message to vote for a Republican candidate come from Democratic Party Leadership, Legislators, or especially from candidates who want to run the elections division for 50% of Utah Residents.

My name is Jeremy Votaw. I'm running for Salt Lake County Clerk and I endorse Operation Chaos.

I have no problems with Republicans voting for Claudia Wright, because the conventional wisdom is that voting for Claudia is going to be like voting for Morgan Philpot in November. I do have a problem with it becoming a part of the campaign strategy for the Utah GOP.

You have your own primary to decide. And by endorsing Operation Chaos, you are saying you don't care who wins that primary. Which is a shame, because there are several differences between the two candidates.

And a warning to Republicans pondering participating in Operation Chaos: if there is a skeleton in Morgan Philpot's closet (Nancy Workman, Sheldon Killpack, Kevin Garn), then you may just wind up with Representative Wright.

And that's something you really don't want to see.

UT-02: Four, Maybe a Fifth Candidate?

Jim Matheson is facing some competition next year.

I talked about Dave Glissmeyer last week.

Now, we have Ryan Kelly running as an independent as well. From his Web Site:

We the people have a duty to our country to defend our liberty and our right to choose what is best for ourselves. This is why I seek to be elected to our Federal government. I feel that few in our government now are willing to defend our rights as they should. They have stopped listening to us, and rather than use our power to vote to remove these people from office, almost half of us stay at home and let them do things for us. America needs a Congress that remembers they are chosen by the people to represent them to the rest of the nation. America needs people who remember that when government fails in its duty to represent the will of the people, we must use the power of the vote to replace those elected with people who will do as we ask them.

And, on the Republican side, Casey Anderson has been running for several months now. From his web site:

Two years ago - after seeing the national debt nearly double in only two terms, the continued foreign policy of entangling alliances and interventionist foreign policy, as well as the continued erosion of civil liberties at home, Casey decided it was time to get active in politics before it was too late. He was elected by his neighbors to be a County Delegate and State Delegate for the Utah Republican party and more recently he was elected to represent his county as a member of the State Central Committee, which is the primary governing body of the state party. He is currently working to get liberty-minded individuals elected in various offices throughout the state.

And Joe over at Sausage Grinder posted this morning that former Republican legislator Morgan Philpot is considering a run as well.

Things are getting interesting.....

-Bob